Duoduo was utterly stunned.
She had never seen an adult cry like a child before.
Duoduo cautiously glanced around.
The Taoist priest on the other platform had already disappeared.
Even the eunuchs serving the Imperial Grandfather were nowhere to be seen.
The firewood on the open ground was still burning.
Since no one had added more wood, only wisps of blue smoke rose upward.
Duoduo hid behind the door, not daring to move.
After a moment, the Emperor on the high platform stood up.
Eunuch Li emerged from who knows where and helped the Emperor down from the platform.
Before leaving, the Emperor glanced in Duoduo’s direction.
Duoduo quickly ducked out of sight.
For an instant, she thought the Imperial Grandfather had spotted her.
But Duoduo waited a long time, and no one came.
She cautiously poked her head out. The open ground outside was empty.
“Huh?”
Curious, Duoduo stepped out.
“Really all gone?” she found it strange.
She walked to the middle of the open ground and looked around.
She was sure no one was there.
So the rain prayer had failed!
“Princess!”
Duoduo heard Lüdou’s voice.
“How did you get in?” Duoduo asked, puzzled.
“No one was around, so this servant worried about the Princess and came in to check.”
“There’s no one outside either?” Duoduo tilted her head, confused.
Hadn’t her father told her the Imperial Ancestral Temple was heavily guarded?
Why was it different from what he’d said?
Lüdou nodded vigorously.
“This servant saw the Emperor’s carriage leave, and then the eunuch beside him called all the people away.”
Duoduo was startled.
“Did the Imperial Grandfather see you?”
Lüdou’s expression was uncertain. “This servant doesn’t know.”
Duoduo tilted her little head again. Forget it!
If the Imperial Grandfather hadn’t sent anyone in to chase her out, then he was tacitly allowing her to play here.
Duoduo’s eyes darted around.
“Lüdou, go guard the entrance for me.”
“Yes.”
Lüdou replied and took two steps, then turned back.
“Princess, aren’t we leaving? Even the Emperor has gone.”
Duoduo waved her hand.
“Since we’re already in, let’s play a bit before leaving.”
“This is the Imperial Ancestral Temple—a rare sight!”
Lüdou’s face showed a speechless expression.
“Princess, do you know what this place is?”
Duoduo nodded. “Didn’t I just say? The Imperial Ancestral Temple!”
Lüdou shrank her neck. “The coachman said this is a mausoleum.”
Duoduo nodded again.
“It’s broad daylight. What are you afraid of?”
“Go keep watch now. If someone comes, give a hum!”
Duoduo urged Lüdou to hurry.
“All right, then, Princess, please be quick.” Lüdou left, looking back every few steps.
Duoduo stared at the two high platforms.
The one on the left was where the Taoist priest had sat.
The one on the right was where the Emperor had been.
Without hesitation, Duoduo climbed up the right platform.
The higher she climbed, the more the entire Imperial Ancestral Temple came into view.
Duoduo was thrilled.
Truly, the higher one stands, the farther one sees!
After surveying her surroundings, Duoduo looked up at the sky.
Standing on the high platform, she felt how close the sky seemed.
Duoduo tilted her head, remembering why she had climbed up in the first place.
She looked around again. The Imperial Ancestral Temple was utterly silent—not even the sound of cicadas.
She reached her hand out toward the sky.
Suddenly, a mist of water vapor rose from Duoduo’s palm, swirling upward.
It started as thick as a chopstick, then gradually grew to the size of a fist.
At first, the vapor scattered everywhere, but soon it rose straight upward like a column of water, rushing toward the sky.
As more and more vapor drifted upward, it gradually gathered into a cloud.
One cloud, two clouds, three clouds...
The sun was increasingly covered by the clouds, and the sky began to darken.
A breeze sprang up from the ground, and as the wind grew stronger, the clouds in the sky thickened.
Lüdou rushed in from outside.
“Princess—”
It’s going to rain...
Lüdou’s words caught in her throat.
Because she saw that the platform where Duoduo stood was shrouded in mist and clouds.
Duoduo stood on it, half-hidden, like a celestial maiden.
The wind blew her hem, fluttering nonstop.
Lüdou’s eyes went wide with disbelief.
Quickly regaining her senses, she covered her mouth and hurried back out.
No one must see this!
She dashed to the entrance and stood guard, her gaze firm and expression serious.
The imperial carriage, still on the road, came to a halt.
“Your Majesty, it looks like rain is coming!”
Eunuch Li reported at the window.
The Emperor couldn’t believe it. He got off the carriage and looked at the sky.
“Your Majesty, the dark clouds are starting from the Imperial Ancestral Temple,” Eunuch Li reported quickly.
“Turn back! Go back immediately!”
For the first time in his life, the Emperor scrambled hastily into the carriage.
Eunuch Li waved his hand urgently.
The Imperial Guard all turned around and headed back toward the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
Inside the temple, Duoduo was satisfied and withdrew her hand.
The teacher said all the conditions for rain were met!
It would rain soon!
Thunder was already rumbling from within the clouds.
Delighted, Duoduo climbed down from the platform.
She didn’t want to be struck into a charred coal ball.
She took one last look around the Imperial Ancestral Temple, then skipped out.
Duoduo saw Lüdou standing outside, as alert as an Imperial Guard, watching the surroundings.
She went up and patted Lüdou on the shoulder.
“Lüdou, let’s go! It’s going to rain soon. Let’s hurry home!”
Lüdou stared at Duoduo, her lips moving as if she didn’t know what to say.
When Duoduo saw Lüdou frozen in place, staring, she waved a hand in front of her face.
“What’s wrong? Lost your soul?”
Lüdou’s eyes stung, and tears fell.
She quickly wiped them away, laughing and crying at once.
“Princess, this servant is just so excited!”
“It’s really going to rain!”
Duoduo smiled and nodded.
“Yes, it’s going to rain!”
“Come on, let’s get out of here quickly!”
Lüdou nodded hurriedly.
“Right, let’s go. We need to leave now.”
Lüdou helped Duoduo into the carriage quickly.
The coachman looked at the sky. “Princess, it’s about to rain. Let’s find shelter first!”
“Fine.”
The carriage sped away.
A flash of lightning slithered through the clouds like a thunder serpent.
Then a thunderclap exploded in the sky.
Commoners who had been indoors rushed out and knelt on the ground.
“It’s going to rain! Heaven has opened its eyes!”
The Emperor’s procession finally returned to the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
Without waiting for Eunuch Li to help him, he leaped out of the carriage in one swift move.
Eunuch Li quickly stepped forward to steady him.
“Go and see at once!” The Emperor hurried inside.
On the platform where Duoduo had stood, mist and clouds still lingered.
The Emperor looked around but found no one.
“Go, summon the Imperial Guard on duty here!”
The Emperor ordered urgently.
